Electrical connection for submarines



July 28, 1931. F. v. KOLB ELECTRICAL ,CbNNECTION FOR SUBMARINES Filed April 11, 1928 Patented July 28, 1931 ULNELEE) STATES TENT FREDERI K V. KOLB, 01 NEW LQNIDON, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRIC BOAT COMPANY, 6F GROTON, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION FOR SUBIVIARINES Application filed April 11,

This invention relates to means for establishing electrical communication between a disabled submarine boat and a rescue ship, for the purposes of a. telephone or of supply- 'ing current for light or heat.

In its broader aspects my invention comprises a cable-containing receptacle applied to the wall of a submarine compartment and a water-tight means permit-ting the end of the cable to be led from the receptacle into the compartment.

It is of primary importance that communication with the occupants of a disabled submarine boat be had with the least possible delay in order that rescue work may be conducted to the best advantage. To permit of direct communication by telephone it is necessary to provide means whereby an operating connection can be quickly established between a telephone instrument exterior of the disabled boat and an instrument within the compartment of such boat.

I have found that this can be done by providing a suitable flexible electric cable which is effectively insulated and normally enclosed within a receptacle permanently associated with the hull of the submarine, this receptacle being water tight so that the cable is normally protected from the action of the water and is not subjected to high pressures such as obtain at depths of 100 feet or more. This cable is coiled within the receptacle, so that it may be readily withdrawn therefrom, and has one end passed into the compartment of the submarine boat for connection to a tele phone instrument. Obviously an electrical connection extending from the outside to the inside of a disabled submarine has other advantages and uses, such as the supply thereby of electric current for lighting and heating purposes.

The single figure of the drawing is a seciional view through a receptacle constructed in accordance with my invention as applied to a submarine boat, the hull and superstructure of which are shown fraginentarily, showing the manner in which the cable is mounted within the receptacle and is led into the compartment of the boat.

to The hull of the submarine boat is indicated 1928. Serial No. 269,125.

at 1 and the superstructure at 2. Inner and outer base blocks 3 and 4, respectively, are disposed at the opposite faces of hull 1, these blocks being suitably faced to fit the hull accurately and riveted thereto, the edges being appropriately caulked. The blocks 3 and 4 and the hull 1, are provided with openings extending th'erethrough, these openings being of equal diameter and disposed in register. A hollow body 5 is disposed upon the outer face of block 4.

This body is provided with an outer angular base flange 6 which seats upon the .block and is secured thereto by bolts 7 threaded upon studs 7 lodged in the block 4. A plate 8 is mounted on the inner face of block 3, being secured thereto by nuts 9 threaded onto studs 9 lodged in the block 3. Any other suitable means may be employed for securing the blocks to the hull and for securing the flange 6 and the plate 8 to the blocks.

late 8 is provided with a stuffing box including a gland 10 within which is'disposed a suitable packing 11 compressed by a packing nut 12 screwing into the lower end ofthe gland. This nut is provided with a central bore which accommodates the end portion of a suitably insulated electric cable 13 which is coiled within the receptacle formed by body 5 and the blocks 3 and 4. The stuffing box provides a water tight closure about the cable so as to prevent leakage of water from the receptacle into the compartment of the submarine. The end of the cable within the compartment is connected to a jack block 14 which a plug 15 'co-op'erates. Leading from the pli'ig 15 is a conductor cord 16, for connection, for instance, with a telephone instrument 17. The cable which is coiled within the receptacle, as illustrated, has its other end effectively closed and sealed at 18 against the possibility of water entering between the metal conductors of the cable and the insulation under the high pressure obtaining at the depths at which the receptacle 5 may be opened.

' The receptacle 5 is closed at its outer end by a cover plate 19 which is secured by cap sc'rews2'0, or in any other-suitable manner, to the ring 21 which is screwed upon the upsures nor to the action of the water.

per end of the receptacle and secured by cap screws 22 to the superstructure 2 as shown.

The receptacle 5 thus serves, to a certain extent, as a support and reenforcement for the superstructure, it being understood that, in practice, one or more of these receptacles may be provided for each of the main compartments of the boat. A vent cook 23 is screwed into the cover 19 and is provided with a control valve 24 of suitable type adapted to be operated by the diver.

In the use of my device, the diver, after determining which compartment of the disabled submarine contains survivors, opens the vent cook 28 and admits water into the receptacle 5, so as to fill the same and then removes the cover 19, in this case by removing the cap screws 20, whereupon the free end ofthe cable 13 maybe secured to a line lowered from the rescue ship. The cable is then drawn to the surface and the seal 18 is re moved, the conductors being then bared and connected, for instance, to a suitable telephone instrument on the rescue ship. Direct telephone communication may then be had with the occupants of the disabled boat, and the work of the divers can be conducted to best advantage with a View to effecting rescue of the men entrapped in the disabled boat as expeditiously as possible. The cable 13, once connecting the rescue ship and the interior of the disabled boat, can be used for other or further purposes, such as conducting current from a suitable source on the rescue ship to the submarine for lighting or heating purposes, in which cases the lead from the plug 15 is connected with suitable lamps or coils. If more than one connection outfit is employed for a compartment, these various purposes may, of course, be accomplished simultaneously.

Indeed, a single cable, conducting current for lighting and heating may have signalling current superimposed thereupon.

The cable 13 may be either a two wire or a single wire cable. In the latter case one side of each of the current consuming instruments will be grounded to the water, he metallic hull 1, being in intimate contact with the surrounding water, forming an ideal ground.

Under normal conditions the receptacle which houses the cable 13 is closed so as effectively to exclude water therefrom and the cable is not subjected to abnormal pres- This serves to prevent deterioration of the insulation of the cable and assures the proper condition of the cable in the event of emergency.

IVhat I claim is:

In combination in a submarine boat having a hull of rounded section and a superstructure above the hull, said hull having an opening therethrough, an outer block having its lower face seating upon and conforming to the curvature of the outer face of thehull, an

release inner block having its outer face seating against and conforming to the curvature of the inner face of the hull, said blocks having openings alinged with the opening through the hull, a tubular member seating upon the upper face of the outer block and secured thereto, means securing the tubular member to the top of the superstructure, a removable closure member for the upper end of the tubular member, said tubular member being adapted for reception of a cable, and a closure member secured to the inner face of the inner block and provided with means for passage of the cable therethrough and for effecting a water tight closure about the cable.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 7th day April, 1928.

FREDERICK V. KOLB. 

